Multi-sectoral mechanism to tackle student suicide
View(s):Cabinet this week discussed the rising cases of suicides among students, child abuse and related incidents, and approved the setting up of a multi-sectoral mechanism with an integrated approach to reduce such incidents.
Deputy Minister of Education Madura Seneviratne said that the programme will start in all schools from June.
A designated teacher will be appointed in each school to assist children who may need help due to stress, mental fatigue or problems they face either in their homes or classrooms, he said, and measures will be taken to assist them.
Cabinet discussed the protection of children from abuse and all forms of violence and identified it as a prime principle in the National Policy Framework ‘A Safe World for Children – A Creative Future Generation’ framework.
The Cabinet approved the appointment of a Standing National Committee under the chairmanship of the Secretary of the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs and comprising representatives of relevant institutions.
Other proposals approved include introduction of amendments to the Penal Code and Criminal Code enabling the elimination of physical penalties against children; the declaration of the media ethics to be followed when reporting on incidents involving children with provisions to prevent such victims from experiencing frequent occurrences of harassment; as well as swift intervention from the National Authority for the Protection of Victims of Crime and Witnesses, the Secretariat for Non-Governmental Organizations and the Sri Lanka Telecommunications Regulation Commission to regulate the activities of media institutions and social media communicators in such a way that damages the identity of young victims.
Several parties will be involved in the protection of children within the government mechanism.
The ministries of Women and Child Affairs, Health and Mass Media, Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, Justice and National Integration, and the Sri Lanka Police play a prime role in this respect.
Currently the National Child Protection Authority provides the facilities to lodge complaints 24 hours.
(DWI)
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